Modern Quilting – Two Terriers Studio

Homespun, Hoodoos, and the Hiker(s)

Published on October 30, 2023 by twoterriersstudioLeave a comment

Home. Homespun. Yes, count me in. I love being home; I’m probably too much of a homebody at times. But it is the space I enjoy with the people I love best, so HOME, yes. Always.

When this pattern, Homespun, was published by Morgan at http://www.modernlymorgan.com, I knew exactly which fat quarter bundle I would use from my collection. I also knew that a bit of fussy cutting would be thrown in, so I got to work. This pattern comes in three sizes: baby, small throw, and large throw. I made the large throw, which measures at 64″ x 80″.

Bright on Bright

I used my stash of Alison Glass Fabric, the Trinket collection. It’s bright on bright, which I believed would be a fun spiral of color in this particular pattern. I also switched from my favorite bleached white background to a denim blue by Art Gallery Fabrics and that was a good decision. I rarely do it, but I’ve not been disappointed when I shift to dark backgrounds. There is so much color in the piecing, the denim blue anchors it all.

Priorities

At the time I started this quilt, I was testing patterns for three other designers, so my personal projects were last on the list. I always meet my deadlines and knew I had to finish the quilts that were pending my written edits and sewing; this one had to wait. I had set out the Homespun pieces on a large foam-core board so that I could eventually lay-out each individual block and ensure the direction of the fussy-cut centers. I almost feel that “meticulous” cut is a better description; maybe we should start calling it that instead of “fussy”. But there it sat, in various stages of completion while I worked on the testing deadlines. It was never far from sight, but it was also 4th on the list of studio work to be done. And you know what happened? Two years passed. TWO years. I worked on other things, this one never far from my machine. Embarrassing? Yes, a little. However, in that time my skills had improved and this went together so quickly once I restarted.

The bees. How stinking cute are the bees? I had used this Art Gallery Fabric in another quilt and could not get enough of the bees. I bought more & more and then sort of hoarded it. I HAD to have these as the centers of these Homespun blocks. While I didn’t spend an exorbitant amount of time thinking about the layout of the other colors, I did spend a lot of time ensuring all the bees were in the right places, directionally correct. Then it was a matter of chain-piecing until it was done.

Fast forward to 2023

It’s now 2023, 28 months since the first cut was made. I had a trip to Utah on my calendar and was intent on bringing this along. I got it finished and packed up. I bring quilt tops in my carry-on bag; never trusting all that work to cargo, that’s for sure. This was day three of our trip and elevation sickness found its way into my life the night before this photo was taken. Goodness. Wow. Ugh! It didn’t occur to me right away what the culprit might be. I underestimated the toll on my body from a day of travel, a day of hiking and then adjusting to 7K+ feet shift in elevation. I recommend giving yourself some time to acclimate. Lesson learned! I’d already had a sneak peak of Bryce Canyon the night before and there was NO WAY I was skipping this adventure. No way I was quitting; I was hiking that canyon, nauseous or not and if it took me all day, I was going to do it. My husband’s patience was a godsend. It was hot and so steep; we stopped often for me to collect myself, but we got it done. It was absolutely awe-inspiring and I’m so glad we pushed through. Just as I imagined, these colors in that canyon – magic.

I say this with almost every single “Quilt in the Wild” photo, but the pictures never do the real thing any justice. I thank God for this beautiful world and for the capacity to see just a smidge of it in my lifetime. Travel and exploration is worth every penny and every minute. It certainly puts life into perspective when you see how small we are in comparison. As “homebody” as I can be, travel, sightseeing, meeting other people and experiencing different cultures (even within our own country) is a blessing. To see my quilts in the places I’ve traveled with my husband or our family, it means a lot to me. It’s a documentation of work & fun; a combo scrapbook of sorts.

Curiosity

This might be one of the funniest memories and photos from the quilt photo vault.

As we traversed the canyon, I saw this crevice where I thought my husband could stand and be SAFE from the edge with a steep drop, but also have a pretty dramatic photo. Of course, we gave right of way to all the other hikers and patiently waited for an opening in the path. I was standing uphill, around another bend, thinking I would politely call, “now, do it now”, when no one else was around. I think this gentleman totally missed what we were doing and as soon as hubs unveiled the quilt, this man STOPPED in his tracks. Of course, only I could see him. I waited, he didn’t move. I waited more, he kept looking. I’m sure my husband was thinking, “Take the darn photo! Can I put my arms down now?” Our fellow hiker continued to look. I was both amused and curious what he was thinking. We are usually alone when documenting quilts, so to see a complete stranger take a hard stop in his own journey to watch this, made me smile. I have wondered many times how he told the story, or if he ever did, once his hike was done. This photo is one of my favorites.

The Hoodoos

One last shot of my Homespun quilt, among the Hoodoos of Bryce Canyon National Park. This may have taken me years to sew, but I always say that things happen for a reason. Maybe it was meant to be photographed here. Finish too soon, miss the shot.

That’s about as close to the edge as I want to be!

Back home & finished

It was long arm quilted by Jenn, http://www.knottedthread.com with a honeycomb pantograph. The binding is a navy and white stripe; the backing is Alison Glass’ Art Theory. So much color!

It’s now 2.5 years since this began and it’s done. It holds a lot of memories and a lot of miles and for that, I think it finished right on time.

-Happy Quilting!

All photos and content property of Two Terriers Studio and not to be copied or distributed without written permission of the owner.

Star Pop 2, #2

Published on October 28, 2023 by twoterriersstudioLeave a comment

Lately, I’ve been documenting things out of the chronological order in which they were created, so here’s one more to keep it going! Star Pop 2, the second one I’ve made. I made the first Star Pop 2 quilt in the spring, as a baby gift for my American Sign Language teacher, but I kept it under wraps to keep the surprise. My youngest fell in love with that first version and asked me to make another. Of course, the answer was YES. Now, many months have passed and I’ve made a second of this same pattern. It goes together quickly and the structure of the blocks allows favorite prints to shine, as they aren’t cut too small. Also, who doesn’t love stars in a quilt?

Star Pop 2 is a modern sawtooth star pattern. It’s beginner friendly, too. The pattern comes with six size options: baby, square throw, large throw, twin, queen, and king. The first one I made in baby size, this one is the large throw which measures 60″ x 75″.

The Fabric

This quilt is made with some favorite Art Gallery Fabrics I purchased from my friend, Brittany at http://www.whiteplainsquilts.com when she had an online fabric shop. She still designs and sells beautiful quilt patterns, so go give her website a look. She phased out the fabric portion of her business, but when she was in the thick of it, the curated bundles were exceptional. Several of these prints are from my own AGF stash, but they all came together beautifully, in my opinion. I was drawn to the “Willow” fabric collection by Sharon Holland, and most especially, Rosewater Ballet. It truly reminds me of ballet, the days watching my child at the conservatory; the swans also remind me of the Swan Boats in Boston…it was the spark for this particular quilt.

This beautiful Rosewater Ballet print and the stack of white blocks, that will become the stars, makes me smile. I think there’s something really cool about seeing the elements stacked and ready, knowing the end goal.

Piecing

Seriously? How sweet is this? The owl, the flowers, the colors. Let’s all just acknowledge the simplicity of the block too. If you’re one who likes chain piecing and efficiency, this pattern by Emily Dennis, http://www.quiltylove.com , is a good choice.

If you’ve seen many of my quilts, you know I often finish them with a pieced back. I use up all the bits from the front or make duplicate blocks for a section across the center. I am still learning to piece backs with a single fabric, but I knew this one needed no interruptions or other fabrics. It’s not perfect pattern matching, but with only a couple of these under my belt, I’m OK with it. I also know the recipient won’t be judging it harshly. I’ll tell you, it boosted my respect for people who hang wallpaper! Geez. That’s a skill.

Ready for Travel

Here she is, pieced and swirled and ready to be quilted. When the colors and the prints are all tossed into one shot and there’s that exhale of relief that what was in my mind, worked out in the process. Even better, a thumbs up from the one who requested it. That’s all I need.

In the Wild

This summer, my husband and I were in Utah and visited two national parks. Not having been to Zion National Park before, I didn’t really know what all we would see, but I thought this quilt would photograph well in that environment. The rugged terrain and the delicate prints, a perfect balance. If you’ve never been to Zion, ( http://www.nps.gov ), I recommend giving it consideration. The trails were not as crowded as I anticipated and the views were unbelievable. I found myself stopping every few feet because the view was even better and then realized none of the photos were as breathtaking as the real thing. So, it became “take photos, but take it in”.

Is that not jaw-dropping, beautiful nature? I thought my quilt was pretty cool, but the landscape dwarfs it by comparison. I mean, seriously. How is a quilter supposed to compete with the Master Artist and thousands of years of time? Impossible. Just be ok with being second, here.

A little closer look; plenty of wrinkles after the hike

The sun shifted just a bit as we were walking out of the canyon, across this riverbed. We paused to take a few more minutes to soak it all in, not knowing if we’d be back. The air is so clean; there was hardly a sound even though we weren’t alone, and the scent of the vegetation is unlike anything in New England. I wish I could add sound/scent to these pictures. The quilt draped across this branch, a little airing out, but looking like stained glass windows. I’m always a sucker for quilts in the wind.

I couldn’t do this without my husband (photo assistant, location coordinator, wearer of big river hiking boots!)

Finished

I had this professionally long-arm quilted by Jenn, http://www.knottedthread.com. This is the Macintosh Rose pantograph in white thread. I chose this because it’s sweet and the swirl of the roses is a nice contrast to the larger square blocks and star points. It’s a feminine finish…I love it.

It just needs a quick wash, another hug and then off to live with my youngest. May she feel the love wrapped up in this project.

-Happy Quilting

All photos and content property of Two Terriers Studio and not to be copied or distributed without permission of the owner.

Eastern to Mountain, Part 3

Published on October 25, 2023 by twoterriersstudioLeave a comment

Well, this post was a long time coming to press! Goodness gracious. The second post in this 3-part series was written five months ago, but this particular quilt has been finished for a year. I’ve clearly not kept up with the blog or the chronology of my projects this year.

Time. It’s fleeting.

Let’s just get to it…meet the quilt lovingly called “The Beast”. The third in a 3 part series.

The Beast

Why “The Beast”? First and probably singularly named because it’s huge. Huge by the standards I’d set for some of my quilts when this was finished in the summer of 2022. With this being an improv style, there wasn’t a pattern or an end size in mind when I started. It was finished when I was finished and that took months (years?). It’s perfectly suited to keep my tall husband cozy on movie nights, so all’s well that ends well.

Strings

There’s no surprise this is another scrappy quilt. I never tire of seeing a decade of fabric bits thrown together into something useful. Thrown together may be a stretch, but I can say without hesitation that I don’t spend much time thinking about which fabrics are pulled from my overflowing bin. I’ve purchased all these pieces because I like them individually, so my thought is that collectively, it will work out. This quilt represents years of previous projects. I love it.

Like most quilters, I have a multiple scrap bins. Some sorted by color, some by designer, some by size. The pieces of this quilt came from the “strings & strips” bin. With the completion of each project, I sort scraps into the appropriate bin and anything more than an inch wide, but in a long strip, goes into this one space. When it hits overflowing, it’s time to piece them together.

Foundation Paper Piecing

I started these blocks with ten inch foundation paper piecing squares from http://www.missouriquiltco.com. The lightweight and easily torn-away foundation papers made these blocks a breeze. I constructed this like a “string quilt”, with a fabric strip placed face-up, diagonally across the center and then worked in each consecutive strip to one side until the foundation was covered. I flipped the square around and repeated on the other half of the square. Everything was given a good press, trimmed and set aside. Over and over and over!

As you can see, there isn’t a theme. The strips vary in color, width, designer and style. It seems to me that in scrappy quilts, the more fabrics, the more it makes sense. It’s not like trying to stay in a zone and missing it…the more the better. At least to my eye.

A Traveling Top

From New England to Utah, this quilt saw some mileage. In the summer of 2022, my husband & I were in Provo, Utah as well as Sundance. The scenery is incredible; perfect for quilt photos. We hopped around town, a bag of quilt tops in tow, and then headed into the mountains. I’m so lucky to have a husband who will carry quilts up steep terrain and then also hold them off the ground while I try to capture good angles. He’s the best. We’ve learned that photos of large quilts in the wild are easier when they are just pieced tops. These babies get heavy!

Stewart’s Cascade Trail

Into the mountains we go. These photos were taken along Stewart’s Cascade Trail, a 1.9 mile hike from the south side of Mount Timpanogos. The trail traverses through thick fir trees, oak, maple, aspens, and an avalanche path. It is stunning. The aspens were spectacular and when the sun shines just right, everything is more beautiful. The elevation is significantly higher than what we are used to at home, but it was manageable. The snakes, not my thing. I kept a good watch after the first one crossed my path.

Anyone else love to see quilts in the wild or in the wind? I love the burst of color among nature’s glory.

The goal was to get to the waterfall and take the photos there. A few people stopped to ask what we were carrying, so the trek took more time as we stopped to explain the quilts. I never know if other hikers think it’s cool or wacky that this is what we are doing, but I’m guessing it leads to a story of “you’re not going to believe what I saw on the trail today!” Just as we got to the clearing and the waterfall was within sight, a young couple moved passed us and perched on a rocky ledge and made themselves comfortable. We debated waiting them out, but also made note of the time and impending sunset. Hiking back down a trail we didn’t know, in the dark, wasn’t top priority. The waterfall shot was over. So here we are…imagine a waterfall just behind the quilt. It’s there, I promise.

Quilted

I had this longarm quilted by Jenn, http://www.knottedthread.com using the Time Warp pantograph. The movement of the panto across these angular cuts is exactly what I wanted.

With so much going on in the front of the quilt, I opted for a simple black & white striped binding. The back of the quilt is mainly black and white with a pieced section, too. I like how the striped binding frames everything.

I had two bolts of the terrier fabric & it has come in handy for quilt backs. I really like this print and have used it on quilts I know I intend to keep in our family.

The Beast finished at 75″ x 87″; a decade of fabric, many months of sewing, a bit more than two thousand miles of travel and a day’s hike in Utah. Worth every minute of effort.

-Happy Quilting!

This is not a sponsored post. All content and photos property of Two Terriers Studio and not to be duplicated or shared without written consent of the owner.

Eastern to Mountain, Part 1

Published on May 3, 2023May 3, 2023 by twoterriersstudioLeave a comment

The Retro HST Quilt

In three seasons of 2022, I made three quilts that traveled with me between the Eastern and Mountain time zones of the USA. I love “Quilts in the Wild” and capturing these in different cities and seasons, in various stages of completion was a treat. So, with that in mind (and because I’m about a year delayed in writing these stories), I’m going to do a 3 part series. One more thing they all have in common is that they were all three made from my scrap stash. It’s hard to say now, but I’m guessing some element of it was an Earth Day focus, using what I have without buying new. There truly is a blessing in using what you have; I could not be more pleased with these quilts.

A Sew Along

One of the great things about the Instagram quilting community are the friendships that can develop between quilters who may have never even met in person. A shared passion for fabric & design, is something we can talk about for days. Fine tuning skills with tips & tricks, as well as collaborating on patterns or even sew-alongs, is actually fun. This Retro HST (half-square triangle) Quilt was born out of an IG sew-along.

Quilty friends, @lizzymakes, @knotted_thread & @graccieone were the spark behind this sew-along in the spring of 2022. It was inspired by a half-square quilt created by Red Pepper Quilts (the original is a 9-patch HST block) and had been made by Elizabeth. Jen & Amanda hosted a “create at your own pace” sew-along and I liked the idea of a giant quilt, but at my own pace, and not on a group deadline. I started pulling fabric and pairing up squares.

Keeping the momentum going with more fabric pairings and trimming. In true to me form, once I started, I was pretty singularly focused!

A few tools to help with accuracy and flat blocks are always right by my sewing machine. The wool pressing mat, my LDH snips, a hot iron and a tailor’s clapper are all used in a day’s work.

The Block Assembly

Accuracy in the first cut is important, but it’s also important how we press (not iron) and trim our blocks to size. This particular quilt of mine has 576 half-square triangles. A little bit “off” x 576 will result in a wonky, not square or flat quilt top. I knew that if I was going to cut this many pieces, they had to be spot-on!

What’s on the inside matters too. I love how quilt blocks look from the side you’ll never see once it’s quilted.

Little by little, I pulled fabric and paired the darker pieces with some low-volume prints. I tried to stick to a schedule of making a few each day because I could tell right away I was going to like this and wanted to see it through to the end. That isn’t always the case. Some “starts” are not the favorite “finishes”.

Off to Utah

I finished this before our trip to Provo and lovingly packed a suitcase with three quilts to take for photos. It’s been a long time since I was in the mountains west of home, so I was excited about the potential for great scenery. Provo did not disappoint!

Two perspectives along the same sidewalk at Bridal Veil Falls. I wish there was sound…the waterfall and the gentle breeze cannot be captured here; it was a spectacular spot.

I like the contrast of the color and softness of all this fabric against river rocks and the roar of nature. Of course, I was on alert for gusts of wind so that my quilt top didn’t get blown into the stream. That would likely not be pretty!

Back to the East Coast

Once I returned home, this was sent to be long-arm quilted. I’m so thankful to have the option to send big quilts out for the magic of edge to edge quilting. I don’t think I could do it justice, for a quilt this size, on my domestic machine.

I chose a swirl pantograph to give movement to all the angles and squares. The backing is a text print (my editing / writing days shine through in fabric prints, sometimes); the binding is a Liberty print. It pulls colors from the front, coordinates with the print on the back; subtle, but interesting, in my opinion.

I’ve shifted to machine binding my larger, personally owned quilts. Yes, it’s special to have them hand-bound. But, we use our quilts and they are washed often, so I like the added assurance of a solid, machine seam.

Retro HST in Autumn

The good thing about an “at your own pace” sew-along is that I wasn’t behind schedule when I finally had it pieced, quilted, traveled and bound for photos in a New England Autumn! As much as I loved the Utah mountain shots, the backdrop of red trees is pretty cool too.

This one is well traveled and well loved, season to season. I look forward to making another!

All photos and content property of Two Terriers Studio, not to be copied or distributed without written consent of the owner.

My 1st Pixelated Quilt

Published on May 2, 2023 by twoterriersstudioLeave a comment

This is the latest scrap busting quilt I’ve made and I love it. Every quilt comes with a story; how it began, who it is for, the process, the fabric, the quilting and boy, does this one have a story. It’s one that I’m glad I trusted the process and continued sewing, even amidst the doubt and layout fatigue. What started as a project to use scraps and have some “mindless” patchwork sewing, quickly became anything but mindless. It’s more of a study of value and every block is placed with intention. Such intention isn’t usually found in scrappy or improvisation quilts I’ve made in the past. This one took time.

Sorting Scraps

I tend to be frugal with my scraps; almost to a fault. I’ve now been quilting for just over a decade and while I buy a lot of fabric, I use and keep almost every little bit until it’s a size that I can no longer find a use for. After each project, I’ve cut leftover fabric into 5″, 3.5″, and 2.5″ squares and store them together for future patchwork. The bigger pieces are sorted and stored by color and become zipper pouches or something like that. I’ve made so many “scrap busting” quilts and will be sharing them here soon. I’m a couple days late for Earth Day celebrations, but I always feel that using every little bit and not dumping it into a landfill is a responsible way to move through this process. My goal here was to not purchase a single piece of fabric to make this giant quilt and in that, I succeeded.

When I decided to make this Pixelated Quilt, I pulled all my 2.5″ squares and just dropped them on my cutting table. That’s the mess above. I don’t sort my squares by color, but by size. It seemed to make sense until this quilt assembly.

After a few days of sorting through all those little random pieces, I spent time sorting by color into a storage box. I don’t work well in chaos, so while I like all the fabric, the lack of order was making it a challenge to get things done. I was reminded that I have very little orange, yellow, or purple fabric in my collection. I needed to cut into some other larger pieces to develop the right amount of color gradient.

It was at about this time that I wasn’t sure I wanted to make this a large quilt. I started questioning what minimum size would still show the pattern, but allow for a quick finish. It was taking more time than I had anticipated (or wanted to spend) and rather than using the 2.5″ squares I’d already cut, I was having to cut into more fabric I already owned. I said to my husband, “I thought this was a good idea, now I’m not sure. Maybe it can be a baby quilt? I’m actually not loving it; is the value gradient actually showing yet?” He will say that the story went something like, “I have an idea; I love it; I think I’m OVER IT; insert mild curse words; I’m SO OVER it; a few more curse words; Ok, I really do love it!” Ha.

The Layout

My block layout is a 6×6 pattern with the darkest line on the center diagonal. I also wanted the graphic images to be oriented top to bottom; the quilt front would have an obvious “top”. This was one more place where the intentional layout became time consuming. In addition to the gradient, I wanted the orientation to be consistent. Sometimes, I don’t worry about that. This time, I was trying to get each piece correct. With a quilt measuring 68″ x 80″, that meant 1,512 pieces…all measuring 2.5″ unfinished, 2″ finished.

Quilt in the Wild

I like to photograph my quilt tops before they are quilted and bound for a few reasons. When I finally get the top finished, the first photos feel like a bit of a celebration. It’s also easier to travel with quilts of this size before they are quilted and bound, because the weight of something 68×80″ is heavy. My husband always helps me with the full size photos, so it’s also good that he’s not standing there, arms completely outstretched, trying not to let a heavy quilt hit the ground. I think it’s fun to see my work out of the studio, so “Quilts in the Wild” is top of my photo list.

These photos were taken at the Northfield Daffodil Farm in Litchfield, CT. It’s a magical place with rolling hills and so many beautiful flowers. This is was the second time (and second quilt of mine) photographed here.

Longarm Quilting

I sent this to be professionally longarm quilted by Jen, http://www.knottedthread.com. I chose a continuous Baptist Fan pantograph and I think she did a wonderful job.

The backing is of sea turtles and the binding is a Moda Fabrics grunge. I like how the binding matched the sea turtles, but also framed this span of so many colors.

Finished

Quilted and bound, I took it to Massachusetts for one more photo. It was just the burst of color needed by the sidewalk on this cloudy, spring day. If you look closely, you can see those turtles peaking out at the upper right corner.

While there is truth to the way my husband would relay the story of this quilt’s making, I look at it finished and I’m thankful I continued on. Isn’t that the way with most things in life? It’s the mentality to keep going that will get us where we need to be. Within these one thousand five hundred and twelve squares are fabrics from my very first quilt, made over a decade ago, as well as pieces from almost every one in between. I’m definitely seeing repeats and I notice the gaps in my own stash. This one will be staying at home with us. I made a considerable dent in my scrap squares and celebrated using every little bit.

It’s just a fun, cozy, colorful quilt, made with love.

All photos and content property of Two Terriers Studio and not to be copied or distributed without written consent.

The Great Outdoors

Published on February 21, 2022February 20, 2022 by twoterriersstudioLeave a comment

In 2021, I joined Kitty Wilkin, @nightquilter, for her Quilt Your Life Community program. I had taken a virtual class with her prior to that & found her teaching style and skill to be very inviting and inspiring. Being a member of the QYL Crew was an obvious next step for me. Kitty has designed so many beautiful blocks and patterns; I was anxious to incorporate them into personal projects.

Thinking about the concept of “Quilt Your Life”, was both exciting and overwhelming. If you think about life, there are so many facets and measurable events. My head was spinning. It was a struggle narrowing it to something manageable. Kitty kept saying, “keep it simple, keep it simple.” I began a quilt that would track a 10-week program I was participating in, but in brainstorming what else this could be, I thought of loved ones and what I could make for them. We each have unique lives. How could I document something about each of them into a quilt-like piece of art?

Scenes in Colorado

I have a niece who loves the outdoors; camping, hiking, skiing and more. I’ve not sewn a lot of things for her recently, so she came to mind for this first pass at sewing tiny “life” quilts. One of the patterns Kitty has designed is called Sew Tiny Adventures. The camping tent, pine trees and mountain ranges are perfect for this niece. Knowing I wanted to frame this piece, I upscaled the pattern about 56%; it’s still tiny.

Tiny Blocks = Tiny Quilts

These blocks finish under 1.5″, so I needed to join them & then border with more fabric to fit the frame. This is finished like a quilt with wool batting and quilt cotton backing. It’s signed & my logo is attached, in the event the piece is ever separated from the frame. The informal tent, tree & mountains called for simple straight line quilting. Just enough texture, but leaving the images to stand on their own.

For the Adventurer

Now that this is finished & gifted, I’m able to share here. My wheels are in motion once again about what might come next. I have my own 10-week milestone quilt to design & finish. To be able to share a mini-quilt, personalized to a loved one, was FUN. It’s one of a kind and that’s always a good thing, right?

Get outdoors; live and document life!

Enjoy…

All photos and text property of Two Terriers Studio; not to be copied or distributed without written consent of the author.

The Wizard, a Commission

Published on February 19, 2022 by twoterriersstudio1 Comment

Awhile back, as in 2019, I purchased fabric called “Dorothy’s Journey” featuring the story of the Wizard of Oz. I have so many personal connections to Dorothy, Kansas, friends along one’s journey and last but not least, it’s a favorite movie of my children when they were very little.

Like I do, I saved the fabric. I saved it for two years. I didn’t cut into it because I didn’t have a plan, so Dorothy & her friends sat patiently in my studio until the end of 2021. I’ve committed to sewing my stash & taking those “must have” bundles from the shelves and turning them into something handmade. What I didn’t realize is that posting my fabric was going to lead to a friend also proclaiming, “I have to have that…what can you make?”

Happy Mail

I had already been cutting blocks for a quilt I wanted to make & keep, so I sorted through what I had left & I didn’t have enough to make something for her too. I scoured online shops & the options were slim or the prices were high. I gave my friend, Rachael, some guidance on where to find the fabric, with the caveat, “the price has gone up quite a bit; are you sure you want to do this?” Her answer was a confident, “Yes, I’d love a mini-quilt for the retreat center”. I’ve sewn for Rachael on several occasions and she gave me an open path on what the end product would be. Some time later, a package arrived with a note and yardage. The plan was set in motion.

Signs of Yellow

My sewing machine was in for service, and this appointment kept me from getting started right away. When it came back with yellow thread in the bobbin, I took that as a pretty entertaining coincidence. I piece all my projects with neutral Aurifil thread, so this golden string was a surprise, but the perfect start to this mini-quilt.

The Blocks

The feature fabric highlights the cast of characters from The Wizard of Oz. I decided to fussy-cut, or meticulously cut, as the case may be, these images into the equal squares. Dorothy would be the center and surrounded by the others. I used a block pattern called Tell Me a Story, from the book, Intentional Piecing, authored by Amy Friend. In addition to the fabric sent to me, I added the yellow print to tie-in the concept of the yellow brick road.

I like how the names of the characters is included; it tells the story a bit, for those who may not be familiar with it.

Metallic Clouds

With the blocks being foundation paper pieced, they are easy to assemble. I use a mini iron and wool pressing mat to prepare my seams.

I never realized how challenging it is to photograph metallic fabric until I worked on this project! These silver clouds look so different in real life, but wow, the photos don’t do them justice.

Complete

This mini quilt is backed with the pink floral print. It is approximately 18.5″ square. Dorothy is the central figure, her best friends – the Lion, Scarecrow, Tin Man and little dog, Toto, surround her. The peripheral characters, Glinda, the Wicked Witch, the Wizard, and the Winged Monkeys are there too. For those who know the story, so much is captured here.

Now that this has arrived at Rachael’s home, I can share here. I have set aside my own “Dorothy’s Journey” fabric, so stay tuned for what my 2019 purchase becomes. I sure hope it’s not another year before my personal project is complete!

Enjoy & remember, there’s no place like home.

All photos and text property of Two Terriers Studio; not to be duplicated or distributed without written consent.

Holiday Hills Quilt #2

Published on February 17, 2022 by twoterriersstudio2 Comments

Looks familiar, right? It’s February 2022 and this has been in the works for a couple of months. Other quilts have been started & finished, but I fell out of habit getting blog posts written during the holidays, so let’s catch up.

Quilting Gifts

If you’ve been a reader for awhile, you know I sew or quilt almost daily. I test patterns for several designers and I write about those quilts & my experiences here. Often, when I test a pattern, it happens to align with a holiday, a seasonal shift, coincidentally with milestones or the birth of new babies. When that happens, I head into the test with a particular person in mind and I choose fabrics that will work well with the quilt, but suited to a gift I also want to make. It’s a win-win. There are also times I make a quilt, knowing it’s a gift, but I want to have one for myself too! This second version of the Holiday Hills Quilt is kind of like that. I made the first version for my family, knowing full well that my sentimental, holiday loving, decor enthusiast friend needed one too.

Keeping Secrets

I’m blessed with a multitude of creative family & friends. I’m inspired by their work and frequently, we share work or “barter”, for lack of a better word. We encourage one another, while also learning from each other. It’s really cool. I was speaking with my friend, Tammy, in late 2021 and she said, “I’d love for you to make me something; maybe a quilt?” Not only is she a friend, she’s been a solid customer too. She has supported my business from the beginning and owns multiple Two Terriers Studio creations. This particular discussion came on the heels of taking inventory of all the quilts I’ve made & gifted and even stacked in closets in my studio. Quilts I’ve tested, ideas that were started & left unfinished. Quilts on my “to make someday” list. Her comment got my wheels churning. I was watching her decorate her new home for the holidays. She has such an attention to detail that I knew her quilt would be best suited with the holidays in mind, in the color scheme I saw in her home. I wanted it to be a surprise, but I have learned that with the amount of hours it takes to complete a project like this, keeping the fabric a secret was not a great idea. I needed her input or approval first.

Fabric

Tammy’s favorite color is teal / aqua. Little pops of it show up all around her world! As I started looking into fabric, I found this collection by Maude Asbury for Free Spirit Fabrics called Fa La La. I felt that it was perfect for her & she gave the “thumbs up”. It was all she knew about what was in the works; the rest I kept to myself. I’ll tell you, not sharing the other fabric choices was a challenge. I wanted to include her, but also surprise her. The trust she placed in me to just do as I wished, was a treat. I ordered the fabric and the project began.

I realize now that I didn’t actually take that many progress photos! This was a pattern I’d already made once, so the piecing and technical issues have been documented before. It was so tempting, with every new tree, to share progress, but I stayed on task.

Longarm Quilting

This quilt is 60×64″ and bigger than I felt comfortable quilting, edge to edge, on my domestic machine. Tammy agreed with having it professionally quilted & she covered that cost, as well as the feature fabrics. I sent this to Jenn, www.knottedthread.com, for the quilting. As always, amazing results. After hours and hours of cutting and piecing, it’s nice to have this kind of finish, texture, and creative art added. It’s a team effort, a collaboration, for sure.

I’m certainly NOT a perfect piecing, all the time, kind of sewist, but this pattern by Raye, www.thehomebodyco.com, is written in such a way that points are not lost in the piecing of these trees. So satisfying to see it up close. Well, at least for me!

I chose this aqua snowflake fabric for the binding. With it being her favorite color, and also featured among the tree motifs, it frames the design pretty well. I try to make my binding at the time the tops are finished, but to be honest, it’s the stage at which I usually lose momentum. The secret is to gift quilts; those get finished! I don’t care to admit how many quilts are stacked in my studio waiting for this 1% final piece of the puzzle.

The Backing

The original feature fabric is the entire back of this quilt. I just love it. The whimsical trees, the old fashioned-ish ornaments, images reminiscent of “tinsel” trees from the 60’s (is that when those were popular?); it all makes me smile. If she wants a pop of color, this can be draped on a sofa or the foot of a bed with the backing facing out, rather than the front.

Exhale

Binding finished, one swift “shaking it out” and setting it down for a look…I exhaled. It’s as I had hoped and it embodies work beyond my own hands. Some of the swirls remind me of the first letter of my name; some of the stars, the first letter of her name, the quilty details made possible by a woman in another state. It’s good. Collaboration is good.

Snow Prayers

Last, but not least, photos for documenting the finish. New England is traditionally known for snowy winters, yet, no snow on the ground when this was done & ready to be sent. If you know me well, you know that I don’t often pray for snow. Like ever; except maybe on Christmas Eve, then not again. However, I did pray for snow the night before this photo. The cool colors of these trees, the holiday vibe & the winter forest just begged for snow. Asked & received. God is good. Today, barely a week later, the snow is mostly melted. For now. Seriously, I don’t want to jinx myself!

All Done

When I woke to snow, it was a good day. There, I said it. I was happy with this weather. My husband always helps with photos and if you look closely, you can see that he walked AROUND the frame so that his big footprints wouldn’t be tracked into the photo. Bonus, I didn’t even think of it, but he knew. Well done, hubs!

Holiday Hills #2 is now at home with Tammy. She un-boxed her gift on her instagram stories @whitelilacfarmhouse and her reaction literally brought me to tears. Her crying, my crying…her jokes about how “Stacey really taped-up this box” (if you know, you know). It was funny even through our happy cry fest. That unboxing moment is why I do this. I want my family & friends to feel loved. Geography doesn’t allow me to be with all the people I care about on a regular basis, but sharing something handmade, one of a kind, and made with love, can transport us across the miles. I’m so thankful for the opportunity to be able to share this skill/hobby/interest of mine with those I care about. Tammy, remember it’s meant to be used. Use it, love it, wash, dry and repeat.

Enjoy…..

All photos and content property of Two Terriers Studio; not to be duplicated or shared without written consent of the author.

Holiday Hills Quilt

Published on November 10, 2021 by twoterriersstudio2 Comments

I’m BACK!

I’ve been a little quiet in this story telling space, but today is the pattern release day for the Holiday Hills Quilt and time for me to get back to the writing of these quilt stories. As the leaves change from vibrant green to red, yellow and now a tinge of orange, it’s clear winter is on the way. It’s perfect timing to prepare for the holidays and handmade gift giving, or to even make something festive for yourself. Truth be told, I will most certainly be keeping this quilt for my family.

A New Quilt

I was fortunate to work with Raye, thehomebodyco.com, who designed the Holiday Hills pattern. She began the initial discussion with testers in 2020 and as you might imagine, there were a few other things that needed attention in that crazy year. Quilting was certainly a positive distraction, but when you’re offering a product to so many people, distractions may not be the best element in the equation. Fast forward to 2021 and this quilt was entirely worth the wait. While we all wanted to go-go-go in 2020, it was wise to settle in and wait; make it perfect. It is well-written, with precise details, easy to make and might I add, FUN.

I have been mindful of “sewing from my stash”; Lord knows I don’t NEED more fabric, as fun as it is to shop and add to my collection. I did want to make a quilt with a traditional color scheme, so I headed straight to my Christmas bin of textile goodness. I pulled this collection, called Merrily by Gingiber for Moda Fabrics. Adding in some coordinates by Cluck Cluck Sew and Sweetwater, I was all set. Let the cutting begin.

There’s always something a little delightful about seeing these fabric trimmings piled together. It’s a sign of what’s to come, but also indicative of little waste, which is a good thing!

A Forest in the Making

Seriously, just having these beauties lined up on my cutting mat was the inspiration I needed. I could already tell how much I would love this quilt.

The Backing

If you’ve been around here for very long, you have seen the photos and heard the stories of all the creatures, great and small, we see in our neighborhood. The black bears seem to be the ones who garner the most surprise and awe, but we also have almost daily visits from deer; the occasional bobcat sighting, and often the hooting of an owl in the trees behind our home. It continues to be magical, if not also frightening at times. I mean, nobody wants to find themselves 15 feet from a bear without any warning (and it happens!). Long story long, that is what drove me to purchase several yards of this fabric. It looks and feels like home. I was shopping with my daughter and stopped the moment I saw this bolt, “isn’t this perfect?” Her reply, “what are you going to do with it?” I had no clue in that moment, but the pine boughs, deer, owl and vibe of it, drew me in. It came home with us that day! I knew I’d figure something out & that it would be used and loved.

A Pieced Quilt Top

Another common thread is my love for summer. It might seem odd that I was as thrilled as I was to dive into a winter holiday quilt. It’s not hard to be excited about changes when things go smoothly. That smoothness isn’t always the case, but in the wait for this pattern and seeing how well it all came together, I was mostly on board for letting summer fade away to focus on the next thing.

Quilting, Edge to Edge

If I’m quilting a small item or baby size quilt, I’m comfortable with doing that on my domestic machine. This quilt’s size and my vision for the pantograph meant sending it to be professionally long armed. This quilting work was done by Jenn at knottedthread.com. It’s exactly what I imagined. The ornaments give a feeling of snow and wind gusting through the hills of trees, but also a nod to favorite Christmas decorations. It finishes the “story” perfectly, in my opinion.

I’m staking claim to this one, for snuggles by the fireplace this holiday season. It’s a simple theme, but each element ties together feelings of home for me. To think the fabrics were purchased years apart and that the pattern was a year in the making, it was just meant to be. Timing is everything, correct? I think timing worked out pretty well on this one.

Pattern Release

The Homebody Company is releasing this pattern today, November 10, 2021 for purchase. You’ll find this quilt in both printed and pdf versions, as well as an extension for making a pillow and even a paint-by-numbers kit. It’s a win-win. Special thanks to Raye for including me in the tester team. It’s always a joy to work together!

Holiday Hills Quilt, by Stacey at Two Terriers Studio

Thanks for stopping by! More projects coming soon.

This is not a sponsored post; all opinions are my own. Content not to be copied or distributed without written permission of Two Terriers Studio. All data and photos property of Two Terriers Studio.

Urban Light Quilt

Published on July 5, 2021 by twoterriersstudioLeave a comment

What’s the saying, “better late than never”? That applies to this post! The timing of my blogpost has nothing to do with my enthusiasm for this pattern or quilt. I finished the quilt top MONTHS ago, but I’m just now getting around to showing the final project.

In the spring of 2021, I was asked by Karen, http://www.bloomingpoppies.net to test this pattern, the Urban Light Quilt. When I saw her mock-ups and how the color choices influenced the overall design, I knew immediately I wanted to make this. Not to mention, just wanting to work with a designer who loves improvisation, like I do.

I pulled from my fabric stash and settled on this Catch & Release collection by Art Gallery Fabrics. More than 2 years ago, I sewed for the AGF Look Book & Blog party, and at the time I was so obsessed with the designs, I purchased several yards of each fabric after the maker projects were done. I’ve hoarded it a bit over the past couple years, but finding ways to incorporate it into new quilts has been nice.

The Urban Light Quilt comes in 5 sizes, I made the large throw. One thing to note about this quilt is that the blocks are large, they repeat and make for a fast finish. The cutting instructions are very easy to follow and if my memory serves me correctly, I was able to put this together in just a couple days. I preface that with the reality that I have few distractions and blocks of time each day to sew. In any case, it’s not a pattern that will take much time given the design and overall block size.

There are traditional elements like flying geese in this design. I love the no-waste approach. I did incorporate text fabric in my quilt and while some of it “reads” correct, directionally, I decided to not be too fussy about the blocks individually. With this particular print, the text is multi-directional on it’s own, so there didn’t seem to be an “up” distinction anyway. Also, with a square quilt, who even knows which direction it will be used on any given day. It all works out; don’t sweat it.

Aren’t the fish & florals just a perfect nod to summer? I think they are so sweet. There’s something whimsical about it that made me look forward to summer days.

This block, on its own, would make a beautiful pillow cover to accompany this quilt.

My favorite color is red and I chose to add a pop of this AGF Pure Elements Solid to the mix. In my opinion, it’s the perfect, clear red. I believe it’s actually called “London Red”. Favorite color and one of my favorite vacation destinations, how could it not work?

As I mentioned, this quilt top and the pieced backing were finished in the spring of 2021. Snow was still on the ground in New England, but this bright fabric was calling for summer. I really like the simplicity of the blocks, but each time I look at it, I see another element in the design that pulls my attention.

Fast forward to summer, June 2021 to be more specific, and my Urban Light is back from the longarm quilter. I brought it along on our family vacation, knowing that these water colors, fish, florals, and the patriotic feel would be perfectly photographed at the beach.

I chose an edge to edge pantograph that mimics the ripple of water. Don’t forget that the thread and this quilting is yet another element to be considered. After all the work to piece it together, I have to remind myself that there’s one more decision to be made. No time for snoozing. With so many angles, I like the smooth curves and motion across these blocks. The binding is done in a small floral, framing it all in red, white, and blue.

This is a pattern I would highly recommend and it’s available on the designer’s website mentioned above. Take a peek at her account or follow the hashtag to see the other tester’s variations; it’s interesting how color choice changes the look of this quilt. Seeing my own version, sometimes the center appears to be a floral motif, sometimes I notice the stars, sometimes it’s the POP of red. How fun to have a quilt with such dimension. I love it and hope it brings cozy snuggles to anyone who gets a chance to use it.

I’m appreciative of the opportunity to work with Karen & to have tested this pattern. I’ve worked with her again since making this one & that second quilt will be posted soon!

Happy Quilting…

All photos and content property of Two Terriers Studio; do not replicate or distribute without permission. This is not a sponsored post.